St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-09-03
A BIT OF COQUETRY.

Ex-Gov. Pierce is to be Placed at
the Head of the Grand Forks
University, in Pursuance Of the
Original Plan. {
Special to the Globe.
GRAND Forks, Sept. at is an open
secret that EX-Gov. Pierce will soon ac-
cept the presidency of the territorial
university at Grand Forks, notwith-
standing his public declination of the
same. A mutual understanding is had
between the ex-governor and the re-
gents of that Institution, whereby the
position is held open for him. These
political maneuvers do not add to the
confidence already weakening in the
relative value of these institutions to
the expense of keeping themu There
is much diversity of opinion regarding
the usefulness and practicability of
state universities. The numerous de-.
nOminatlOnal colleges and Seminaries
are within the reach of all, and the idea
prevalent, and growing, is that the COM
mon schools are the great educators. /!
the standard of which Is being raised
from year to year, and If more liberal
education is desired it should be OBJ
The last legislature Of Dakota
for the university at Grand
Forks. The sum of $4,000 was
appropriated for improvements andz
maintenance, $4,000 of which was for
maintenance. With the present schOl-i
arShip the cost to the territory is about
81, 900 to each scholar, or nearly double
the sum required to maintain them at
Yale college. nThe standing of our.
Western universities, under state con.
troll Ic lnf hrnh hot 8
Htlcal favOritism was excluded when
selecting the president and faculty, and
high character, learning and experience
in educational matters considered. The
selection of ex-Gov. Pierce for president
OF the Grand Forks university, at SAL
airy of $500 a year, could only have
been
MADE FOR POLITICAL REASONS,
as he is without experience in educa4
tiOnal matters, and his own education is
limited. The salary of the president of
this institution was raised to $500 a.
year for the benefit of Gov. Pierce.
The average country school mistress
receives about $40 month, and teaches
the same number of pupils, reckoning the.
school year at nine months. The
trustees of the Grand Forks university
could have hired a schoolmiStreSs, fully,
as competent to instruct the youth of
tnat institution as Gov. Pierce, at q
saving to the territory of $1,000 year.
Of course, if the desire is to raise the
standard of the school, it will be neces-i
sary to pay liberal salary to secure the
services of a practicable and experienced
educator of lifelong experience and
training. The above comparison Isl
made on the supposition that no suchj
person is desired, as no good reason cans
be produced why Gov. Pierce should be-
given any advantage over the schools
mistress. If Partially is shown it should
be to that one having the greater ex-'
perience in educational matters, taking,
it for granted that Gov. Pierce is as Welt
educated as the schoolmistress. This
university is located at Grand FOrks,i
one of the best young cities of the
Northwest. With proper management
it should quickly take the lead among
the educational institutions of Dakota.
The attention of the regents is called
to that fact, and that no time should be
lost in restoring public confidence by
securing the services of some person
for president who is qualified, and has
experience as an educator. The salary
is ample-in fact larger than is paid by
most of the great colleges of the land.